Fence construction apparatus



Feb. 26, 1963 R. s. HULBURT FENCE CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug. 1. 1960 Feb. 26, 1963 R. s. HULBURT FENCE CONSTRUCTIONAPPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1960 United States PatentOfiice 3,079,129 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,079,129 FENCE CONSTRUCTHUNAYPPARATUS Robert S. Hulburt, 900? Kenton Ave, Skoitie, Ill. Filed Aug.1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,441 2 Claims. (Cl. 254--29) This invention relatesto fence construction apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus forconstructing or dismantling a fence such as an electric fence or thelike, with ease and dispatch. Current fence construction techniquesentail a plurality of separate procedures, including placement of theposts and insertion thereof by hammering or the like, straining andstretching of wire, and attaching the wire to the posts. Each of theseprocedures requires a retracing of steps and generally calls forseparate sets of tools. Thus, digging post holes and setting the posts,whether wooden or otherwise, by means of a maul, is slow and tediouswork. Often, the resultant structure is insufficiently strong. Unrollingthe wire is also a difficult and dangerous job, since the spool of wireis heavy and apt to snarl, and the possibility of lacerations from theWire is generally present. Further, the process of attaching the wire tothe posts often involves complications, since wooden posts requireinsulators which are apt to become detached, and securing insulators onsteel posts is particularly exacting and time consuming since groundingmust be avoided. Often, one or more inspections are needed to detect agrounding defect. Dismantling the fence is correspondingly diflicult,dangerous and time consuming and for that reason the task is oftenneglected, so that the most advantageous use of land is not obtained.The posts are seldom in condition for reuse, since wooden posts rot andsplinter while metal posts are frequently bent as they are removed fromthe ground. Insulators, also, become broken and worn and kinks areformed in the wire. For these reasons, the

fence generally is used for one season only and then must be discarded.

The present invention overcomes these difiiculties by providing a fenceconstruction apparatus which is advantageously used in combination witha tractor or the like and includes hydraulic (i.e., fluid or pneumatic)jack means for inserting and retracting fence posts of preferablymetallic construction, together with means for assuring a correctalignment of the posts in the ground and means operable from thetractor, or otherwise, for automatically unreeling or rewinding the wirefor the fence as the fence building or dismantling operation proceeds.Indicator means such as a perpendicular bubble may be carried directlyon the hydraulic structure for inserting or removing the posts, andguide and steering means are also utilized therewith. The hydraulicmeans or jack desirably is mounted on a frame carried by the tractor, bymeans of a universal joint, with telescopically adjustable supportsbeing afforded which may be locked to maintain the jack in the .desiredperpendicular, or other, alignment. The fence winder means may also becarried on the frame for supporting the jack, and driven hydraulicallyfro-m the tractor motor, or otherwise, a level windreel being preferablyutilized for this purpose. Desirably, the fence post structure for usewith the apparatus of the invention includes a coil-like metal sleevewith an insulator grommet therein, and forming a slot through which thewire may be inserted or removed.

Thus the invention affords a continuous fence construction ordisassembly process which may be characterized as employing a straightline mechanical power production principle, thereby eliminating themultiple retracing of steps required with previous processes. Further,the fence thus constructed will have the most important advantages thatthe end posts will be solidly placed, and where an electric fence is tobe made, the

wire will be insulated from the grounding but can be tightened orloosened as desired without complex manipulation of the wire and theinsulators therefor. Further, the wire may be made permanently tight.

Thus, when the end posts have been set firmly 'in position, the wire maybe attached to a given end post and the tractor with the apparatus asdescribed thereon backed along the proposed fence line and operated asindicated to place posts at desired intervals, with the wire beingreadily inserted in the insulated holders. At the end of a fence row, aninsulated end post is set into position and the wire then may bestretched, by means of the tractor if .desired, and secured to the endpost. It may be noted in this connection that a gate may be provided atthe end of the fence line and may be utilized to afford the spacerequired for the tractor or apparatus carrying the fence constructiondevice.

It will thus be understood that the wire is allowed to slide through theinsulated holders so that, for example, when an animal puts pressureupon the Wire, the wire will snap back into position thereafter and willremain tight, without the previously encountered dislodgement of theinsulation for the wire.

Dismantling a fence thus formed is accomplished in substantially thereverse manner. Thus the tractor may be moved forewardly along the fenceline, and the post driver or hydraulic jack is used to extract the post.Simultaneously, with the movement of the tractor or other vehiclecarrying the apparatus, the Wire is rewound on the spool.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fenceconstruction device which is of a simple and unitary construction andpermits the steps of fence post insertion, wire stringing and connectionof the wire to the post to be accomplished without retracing of steps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence constructionapparatus as described which can be used to disassemble the fence, alsowithout retracing of steps and with the several operations proceedingsubstantially simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as describedwhich will build a stable and wellinsulated fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence construction anddismantling device which greatly reduces the time and labor involvedwith previous methods and which operates automatically to a largeextent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence constructionapparatus which ensures a correct or desired alignment for theindividual fence posts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device forconstructing and dismantling wire fences in a manner such that, when thefence has been dismantled, the parts may be re-used and great savingsthus afforded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence constructiondevice which is readily adaptable to variations in land contour andthereby makes feasible the most efficient and economically advantageoususe of the land.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent asthe description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

FIGURE -1 is a perspective view of a fence construction apparatusaccording to the invention, in combination with a tractor, shown aspartly broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of control andpositioning means for the fence construction apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in vertical section,of a fence post and insulator according to the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the insulator with a fence wiretherein (shown rotated 90 from its position in use).

Referring now to the drawings, the fence construction apparatus isadapted to be mounted on a tractor 12 or other dirigible vehicle, as bya frame structure 14 which may be secured to the tratcor by bolts or thelike 16, and preferably by a cross brace 18 secured to a downwardlyextending portion of the frame 14 by bolts or the like 20 and to abracket 22 or the like by bolts 24. Thus in a preferred form of theinvention the apparatus 10 includes a hydraulic jack 26 pivoted to theframe structure 14 at its lower end by a universal joint 28 foradjustable insertion or removal of fence posts such as the fence post 30as hereinafter further described. Thus the fence post 30 is adapted tobe held in a sleeve 32 on a telescopically adjustable shaft 34 for thejack 26 which carries a bracket structure 36 on which the sleeve 32 isformed. In order to prevent undesirable rotational movement of thesleeve 32, a second shaft 38 preferably is telescopically received .inthe jacket portion 40 of the hydraulic jack receiving the shaft 34, anda preferably V-notched guide bracket 42 is also formed on the jacket 40in register with the depending sleeve 32 to guide the post 30 incooperation with a lower, V-formed guide 44 and with the sleeve 32.

'It will thus be appreciated that downward movement of the shafts 34 and38, and sleeve 32, will drive the fence post 3i into the ground. Inorder to control this action, hydraulic control means 46 may be formeddirectly on the jacket 40 and may include a switch element 48 which may.be used with a suitable indexing or instruction plate 56 on the controlcasing 52. Suitable conduits 54 and 56 lead from the housing 52 to asource of hydraulic (i.e., fiuid or pneumatic) pressure in the tractorsuch as a'conventional pump or the like to control the operation of thejack 26.

In order to control the alignment of the hydraulic jack 26, and of afence post such as the post 30 to be inserted, or alternatively,retracted thereby, a handle 58 extends preferably from the radiallyouter portion of the casing 52 to the jacket 40, so that by simplygrasping the handle the angular position of the hydraulic jack and ofthe post 30 may be varied, as the result of the provision of theuniversal joint 28.

It will be appreciated that it is desirable to .provide a.suitablevertical, or in the case of posts for-contour farming orthe like, anangular alignment for the hydraulic jack which remains fixed foran-individual fence inserting or removal action. To this end,telescoping guide shaft and locking means are provided which include theindividual shaft structures 60' and 62. Only one of these shaft meansneed be used, although the use of a pair of .sufch shaft means isadvantageous. Thus the shaft means .60 and 62 may include a shaftportion 64, as illustrated with respect to the means 60, and a shaftportion .66, with the shaft portion 64 being pivotally secured to theframe 14 by a universal joint 68 and with the shaft portion 66 beingpivotally secured to the jacket 40, as

for example at the bracket or guide 42, by means of a universal :joint70. A shaft portion 72 of the means 62 maybe secured by a pivotal joint74 to the bracket 22, and a shaft portion 76 may be secured to thehousing 40, as at the bracket 42 by a universal joint 78, as seen inFIGURE 2. The universal joint means and 78 may include a sleeve 89 onthe bracket 42 extending horizontally at the inner or rear edge thereof,the bracket 42 being shown as formed integrally at the bottom of .thecasing '52 with the guide port-ion'thereof at the front of the casing40.

Thus the shafts 64 and 66-and the shafts 72 and 76 may be telescopicallyrelated with the shafts 66 and 76 being movable into and out of thetubular portions 64 and 72 in the form shown. Angularly rotatablelocking means 82 and 84-may-be provided, in accordance with theunderstanding of those skilled in the art, to be rotated 'terminedspaced intervals. be carried in a suitable container or quiver on thetractor and placed in the sleeve 32 in guided relationship as byperpendicular handle portions thereof to locking and unlocking positionsrespectively. Such means may include an internally threaded conformationfor the sleeve portions 86 and 88 thereof coacting with taperedexternally threaded split sleeve elements (not shown) on therespectiveportions 64 and 72, or other suitable locking means may be afforded.Thus when the hydraulic jack 26 is in a desired perpendicular or otheralignment the locking means 82 and 84 may be locked to hold the shaftmeans 60 and 62 at a desired extension to maintain such alignment. Ashereinabove set forth, the shaft means will afford free angular movementof the hydraulic jack '26 about the universal joint 28 prior to lockingthereof.

In order to determine when a perpendicular alignment for the hydraulicjack 26 has been achieved, a perpendicular bubble level 89 is provided,preferably in the top portion of the casing 52. Thus a simple reading ofthe bubble means 89 will demonstrate the correctness of the alignment ofthe jack, and of the fence post 30 to be driven thereby.

Also in accordance with the invention, and to permit the fenceconstruction to proceed on a straight line mechanical productionprinciple so as to eliminate multiple retracing of steps, Wiredispensing and collecting means are provided as indicated generally byreference numeral 90. The means 90 thus includes a level wind reel 92mounted as by a bracket means 94 and 96 to the frame 14. The reel 92 maybe hydraulically actuated from the tractor I2 by suitable shaft meansand includes guide means 97 for level wind feeding or retracting of thewire 98, although other forms of reel or spool could also be used inaccordance with the invention. A sleeve portion may be incorporated inthe guide means 97 having outwardly tapering ends to permit readymovement of barbed wire onto and off from the reel. A fence Windercontrol ltltl is provided which is operable from the seat of thetractorin a preferred form of the invention, by means of an elongated shaft 102pivotally connected to a lever 104 for controlling the winding action ofthe reel .92 in a forward or reverse direction as desired, as driven byhydraulic power from the tractor, or by mechanical vdrive extensionmeans from a suitable drive shaft (not shown).

Desirably, the fence posts 30 are of a steel or metal shaft constructionpointed at the lower ends 108 and carrying ring-like insulator means 110adjacent their upper ends. The insulator means 110 may be welded orotherwise suitably connected to the shaft and have an outer portion 112of steel or other suitable material and an inner rubber or insulativegrommet portion 114 received therein to hold the wire out of contactwith the rod or shaft 30. Also, to permit ready insertion and removal ofthe wire 98, without inadvertent release thereof, the ends of the ringmember 110 are displacedlaterally and then brought toward one another inoverlapping relationship, as shown, so that a relatively diagonal slot1-16 is defined therebetween. Thus by manually twisting the wire to aslight extent, the wire may be selectively slipped into position orremoved, and thereafter tightened or loosened through the insulatorwithout the 'need for complicated manipulation and disengagement of thewire from the insulator.

In operation, therefore, insulated end posts are set firmly in positionand wire 98 attached thereto. The tractor is then moved along a proposedfence line and the manual control 46 is operated by means of the lever48 to periodically drive the posts 30 into position at prede- The poststhemselves may shown when desired. The sleeve 32 is dimensioned tofreely receive the upper end of the post so that the post may be driveninto the ground to the desired depth by force or impact produced by thejack. Manually operable release and latching means for the sleeve 32 mayalso be provided within the scope of the invention. A chain may bewrapped around the post and engaged in hook means 87 on the bracket 36for extraction of the post, if desired, although other gripping meansmay also be used for this purpose. Thus the jack may be aligned by meansof the bubble 89 for setting the post perpendicularly, although when anew direction for the fence is taken, it may be desired to set the postsangularly outwardly to a slight extent as may be accomplished by guidingmovement with the handle 58. The aligning action may be accomplishedsimply by gripping the handle 58 to pivot the jack about the universaljoint 28 with the shaft means 61 and 6-2 being telescopically adjustableby a suitable positioning of the locking means 82 and 84 in releaseposition. When the appropriate alignment has been achieved, the lockingmeans 82 and 84 may be locked to hold the jack in position during thedriving operation. The wire 98 may be inserted through the individualinsulator means 110 on the respective fence posts 30 as the operationproceeds, and at the end of the fence row insulated end posts are setand the wire is stretched and secured thereto. As hereinabove indicated,the space required for the machinery such as the tractor 12, at the endof the fence line, in completing the fence, may be used to provide agate for the field defined by the fence.

The wire may be stretched without difficulty because of the looseconnection in the respective insulators 116. Also as hereinaboveindicated, when pressure is exerted upon the assembled wire, it ispermitted to slide through the holders and will thereafter snap backinto position so that dislodging of the insulation is avoided and theentire wire remains taut.

It will be appreciated that multiple wire fences may be constructed inaccordance with the invention, by utilizing two or more reels in themanner described. And the machine may be made heavier or lighter asrequired to meet various conditions, and, for example, a permanent fencecould be constructed thereby, as well as exceptionally light fences.

Dismantling the fence is accomplished in substantially the reversemanner. Thus the tractor may be driven forward while winding the wireonto the reel 92 rather than unwinding it as in the preceding steps. Thehydraulic jack is utilized to pull up the posts from the ground, and forthis purpose a chain or the like may be wound around the post to secureit in position for extraction. Thereafter the chain may be removed andthe post put back into the post container on the tractor. The Wire can,therefore, be continuously rewound on the spool during disassembly ofthe fence without a separate operation being required for this purpose.

It will thus be seen that an effective apparatus for economicallyconstructing and removing fences has been provided, whereby the fencemay be placed where it is most needed, and moved when desired for thebest use of the land. The invention accordingly represents a furtherstep in the mechanization of farm operations which has proceeded at anaccelerating pace since approximately 1910. Since farming units havebecome progressively larger and fewer people are required to produce agiven amount per acre, the fence construction apparatus of the inventionis particularly important. Pastures are becoming increasingly central inlivestock farming and, correspondingly, contour farming is coming intoits own, being only restricted by the availability of good fenceconstruction and dismantling means.

It will be readily understood that the utility of the land can begreatly improved if fence rows can be changed at will. Thus the harvestseason can be prolonged with conventional fields and many fields may bepastured earlier in the spring or later in the fall because of the easeof providing a fence around them. For example, a farmer having a plotsuitable for pasturing may currently be unable to pasture the plotbecause of the pressure of time for harvesting corn, fall plowing andthe like. By means of the invention, such a plot could be fenced withoutinterference with the other farming operations.

Further, many farms today are only partially fenced and such fences asare used are in constant need of repair. The apparatus of the inventionwill permit complete fencing and repair to be accomplished withoutdifficulty and will also be a great asset in livestock farming, sincepasturing is the most economical method of harvesting and maintainingfertility. The advantages of increased mechanization in fenceconstruction and dismantling will be readily apparent to those skilledin the agricultural art. Thus the apparatus will have application to afull range of farming operations as carried out today, and its use willincrease as familiarity with the advantages thereof progresses.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respectto certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereuntoappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for assembling and disassembling wire fences of the typeemploying fence posts formed as narrow diametered elongated rigidarticles being sharpened at the lower extremities to permit insertioninto or removal out of the ground without drop-hammer or repetitiveimpact elfect or bending of said post, the improvement of,

a self-propelled vehicle having a central hydraulic power sourcecontained therein,

a frame support connected in firm assembly to said vehicle,

a telescopic two-way hydraulic jack firmly connected to said support andmounted in a vertical position,

said jack hydraulically operated by means of hydraulic conduitsconnected to said jack and said central hydraulic power source,

a means at the upper extremity of said jack and connected in firmassembly to said jack to positively engage said fence post and move itby means of said telescopic jack to force said fence post into or out ofthe ground,

a wire reel connected in firm assembly to said frame support,

said reel being hydraulically operated by means of hydraulic conduitsconnected to said ree'l and said central hydraulic power source,

a control valve means in said conduits operable from the vehicle tocontrol hydraulic pressure in said conduits,

thereby regulating the direction of rotation and torque on said reel,

said reel thereby Winding or unwinding wire attached to said reel andregulating the tension applied to said Wire.

2. For use with a narrow diametered steel fence post of the type havinga sharpened end at lower extremity thereof,

a self-propelled vehicle having a central hydraulic power sourcecontained therein,

a frame support connected in firm assembly with said vehicle,

a two-way telescopic hydraulically operated jack,

said jack being pivotally connected at the lower extremity of said jackto said frame support of said vehicle and said jack having atelescopically adjustable shaft movable in a vertical direction,

conduit means connected to said central hydraulic power source and tosaid jack to operate said jack hydraulically,

manual operating control means connected in said conduit to regulatehydraulic pressure in said conduit for determining vertical motion tosaid jack,

said jack having means at its upper extremity for positively engagingsaid fence post to move said fence post in the direction of said jackwith a continuously applied hydraulic pressure action,

external guide flanges connected in firm assembly to said jackrto guidesaid fence post and thereby minimize deflection of said fence postduring insertion into or removal from the ground,

telescopic guide shafts connected to said jack and to said frame of saidvehicle for adjusting the vertical alignment of said jack,

said telescopic guide shafts having a locking means to establish andmaintain adjusted vertical alignment of said jack,

and leveling determining means responsive to perpendicular alignment ofsaid jack connected to said jack fordetermining the level adjustment ofsaid jack.

References {Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SternApr. 7, Starling May 30, Roe Dec. 30, Blane Mar. 15, Lockwood July 22,Lindquist Apr. '7, Nichols June 22, Chicane June 17, Parker et a1. Nov.24, Shaver June 14,

1. IN A DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING WIRE FENCES OF THE TYPEEMPLOYING FENCE POSTS FORMED AS NARROW DIAMETERED ELONGATED RIGIDARTICLES BEING SHARPENED AT THE LOWER EXTREMITIES TO PERMIT INSERTIONINTO OR REMOVAL OUT OF THE GROUND WITHOUT DROP-HAMMER OR REPETITIVEIMPACT EFFECT OR BENDING OF SAID POST, THE IMPROVEMENT OF, ASELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE HAVING A CENTRAL HYDRAULIC POWER SOURCE CONTAINEDTHEREIN, A FRAME SUPPORT CONNECTED IN FIRM ASSEMBLY TO SAID VEHICLE, ATELESCOPIC TWO-WAY HYDRAULIC JACK FIRMLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT ANDMOUNTED IN A VERTICAL POSITION, SAID JACK HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BYMEANS OF HYDRAULIC CONDUITS CONNECTED TO SAID JACK AND SAID CENTRALHYDRAULIC POWER SOURCE, A MEANS AT THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID JACK ANDCONNECTED IN FIRM ASSEMBLY TO SAID JACK TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE SAID FENCEPOST AND MOVE IT BY MEANS OF SAID TELESCOPIC JACK TO FORCE SAID FENCEPOST INTO OR OUT OF THE GROUND, A WIRE REEL CONNECTED IN FIRM ASSEMBLYTO SAID FRAME SUPPORT, SAID REEL BEING HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BY MEANSOF HYDRAULIC CONDUITS CONNECTED TO SAID REEL AND SAID CENTRAL HYDRAULICPOWER SOURCE, A CONTROL VALVE MEANS IN SAID CONDUITS OPERABLE FROM THEVEHICLE TO CONTROL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN SAID CONDUITS, THEREBYREGULATING THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION AND TORQUE ON SAID REEL, SAID REELTHEREBY WINDING OR UNWINDING WIRE ATTACHED TO SAID REEL AND REGULATINGTHE TENSION APPLIED TO SAID WIRE.